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Last updated: Monday, 2 March 2026 at 5:43 PMNo updates available
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Draft House Minutes

No. 40

Monday, 2 March 2026

- 10:00:12 AM

1The House met, at 10 am, pursuant to adjournment. The Speaker (the Honourable M. Dick) took the Chair, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.

- 10:01:11 AM

2PETITIONS—STANDING COMMITTEE—REPORT—STATEMENT BY MEMBER

Ms Belyea (Chair) presented the following documents:

Petitions—Standing Committee—Report 7: Petitions and Ministerial responses—

Report, 2 March 2026.

Petition.

Ministers' responses to petitions previously presented to the House.

Ms Belyea made a statement in connection with petitions.

- 10:02:21 AM

3Prime Agricultural Land Protection Bill 2026

Ms Penfold, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to protect prime agricultural land, and for related purposes.

Document

Ms Penfold presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

- 10:03:07 AM

Ms Penfold moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

- 10:13:17 AM

Debate adjourned and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

- 10:13:39 AM

4Transparent and Quality Public Appointments Bill 2026

Dr Scamps, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to establish a framework for transparent and quality public appointments, and to establish Independent Selection Panels and the Office of the Public Appointments Commissioner, and for related purposes.

Document

Dr Scamps presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

- 10:14:25 AM

Dr Scamps moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Mr Gee, 10:22:06 AM.

- 10:24:28 AM

Debate adjourned and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

- 10:24:59 AM

5Australian Centre for Disease Control Amendment (Gambling as a Public Health Issue) Bill 2026

Dr M Ryan, pursuant to notice, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the Australian Centre for Disease Control Act 2025, and for related purposes.

Document

Dr M Ryan presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

- 10:25:33 AM

Dr M Ryan moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

Ms Chaney, 10:31:06 AM.

- 10:35:42 AM

Debate adjourned and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

- 10:35:58 AM

6Energy affordability

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the motion of Mr Tehan—That this House:

(1)condemns the Government for its failures regarding energy affordability and policy transparency; and

(2)notes that:

(a)Australians were promised a $275 cut to their power bills but under the Government households are instead paying on average $1,300 more;

(b)energy bills have already surged close to 40 per cent under the Government;

(c)the Government has broken its most basic promise to the Australian people; and

(d)the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water advised the Minister for Climate Change and Energy within the Incoming Government Brief of ‘a further significant increase in retail electricity prices next financial year’—

Debate resumed.

Mr Holzberger, 10:36:08 AM. Mr Leeser, 10:41:14 AM. Ms Coffey, 10:46:19 AM. Mr Willcox, 10:51:22 AM. Mr Soon, 10:56:19 AM. Mr Rebello, 11:01:25 AM. Mr Georganas, 11:06:29 AM.

- 11:11:41 AM

Debate adjourned and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

- 11:11:55 AM

7Women’s health

Ms Campbell, pursuant to notice, moved—That this House notes that:

(1)twelve months into the landmark $792.9 million women’s health package, the Government is continuing to deliver on its promise of more choice, lower costs and better care for Australian women and girls; and

(2)since the announcement, more than 660,000 women have accessed more than 2 million cheaper scripts for new contraceptives, menopausal hormone therapies and endometriosis treatment listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

- 11:17:13 AM

Debate ensued.

Mrs McIntosh, 11:17:15 AM. Mr Burnell, 11:22:17 AM. Dr M Ryan, 11:27:24 AM. Dr Garland, 11:32:20 AM. Mr Leeser, 11:37:25 AM. Ms J Ryan, 11:42:31 AM. Mrs Phillips, 11:47:40 AM. Ms K Cook, 11:52:46 AM.

- 11:57:53 AM

Debate adjourned and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

- 11:58:17 AM

8Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026

Ms Rowland (Attorney-General), by leave, presented a Bill for an Act to amend the law relating to Royal Commissions, and for related purposes.

Document

Ms Rowland presented an explanatory memorandum to the bill.

Bill read a first time.

- 11:58:46 AM

Ms Rowland moved—That the bill be now read a second time.

- 12:05:43 PM

Debate adjourned (Mrs McIntosh), and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for the next sitting.

- 12:06:23 PM

9amendment to sessional order 65a

Mr Burke (Leader of the House), by leave, moved—That sessional order 65a be amended to read as follows:

65a Opportunities for crossbench Members

Consistent with the principle that the call should alternate between government and non-government Members and to enable crossbench Members to receive the call in accordance with the crossbench proportion of the non-government membership of the House:

(a)During Question Time, priority shall be given to:

(i)a crossbench Member seeking the call on the fifth, thirteenth, seventeenth and twenty-first questions; and

(ii)an opposition Member seeking the call on the first, third, seventh, ninth, eleventh, fifteenth, nineteenth, twenty-third, twenty-fifth, twenty-seventh and twenty-ninth questions.

(b)During each period of Members’ statements in the House, priority shall be given to at least two crossbench Members seeking the call (standing order 43).

(c)During each period of Members’ statements in the Federation Chamber on Mondays, priority shall be given to at least four crossbench Members seeking the call (standing order 43).

(d)During each 30 minute period of Members’ constituency statements in the Federation Chamber, priority shall be given to at least one crossbench Member seeking the call (standing order 193).

(e)During each one hour period of Members’ constituency statements in the Federation Chamber, priority shall be given to at least two crossbench Members seeking the call (standing order 193).

(f)During the grievance debate in the Federation Chamber, every Tuesday priority shall be given to a crossbench Member seeking the call as the first speaker (standing order 192b).

(g)During the adjournment debate in the House, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays priority shall be given to a crossbench Member seeking the call as the first speaker (standing order 31).

(h)During the adjournment debate in the Federation Chamber, every Thursday priority shall be given to a crossbench Member seeking the call as the first speaker (standing order 191).

(i)For the matter of public importance discussion, the Speaker shall have regard to the crossbench proportion of the non-government membership of the House in selecting matters proposed (standing order 46).

- 12:07:35 PM

Debate ensued.

Mr Tehan, 12:07:39 PM.

- 12:07:52 PM

Question—put and passed.

- 12:08:05 PM

10Treasury Laws Amendment (Supporting Choice in Superannuation and Other Measures) Bill 2025—REPORT FROM FEDERATION CHAMBER

The Deputy Speaker reported that the Federation Chamber had been unable to complete its consideration of the bill and had returned the bill with an unresolved question (see item No. 3, Minutes of Proceedings of the Federation Chamber, 12 February 2026), and presented a certified copy of the bill together with a schedule of the unresolved question.

- 12:08:34 PM

Unresolved question—That the amendment moved by Mr Ted O’Brien be agreed to—

- 12:08:42 PM

Debate ensued.

Ms Clutterham, 12:08:44 PM. Mr Holzberger, 12:22:45 PM. Mr Georganas, 12:37:52 PM. Dr Mulino, 12:50:24 PM.

- 12:57:50 PM

Question—put.

- 12:58:00 PM

Division 118

The House divided (the Speaker, Mr Dick, in the Chair)—

AYES, 44

Ms Aldred*	Mr Conaghan	Mr Ted O’Brien	Mr Tehan
Mr Batt	Mr Gee	Mr L O’Brien	Mr Thompson
Ms Bell	Mr Hamilton	Mr Pasin	Mr Venning
Mr Birrell	Mr Hawke	Ms Penfold	Mr Violi
Ms Boele	Mr Hogan	Mr Pike	Mr Wallace
Mr Boyce	Mr Joyce	Ms Price	Dr Webster
Mr Buchholz	Mr Kennedy	Mr Rebello	Mr Willcox
Mr Caldwell	Ms Landry*	Dr M Ryan	Mr R Wilson
Mr Chaffey	Mr Leeser	Dr Scamps	Mr T Wilson
Ms Chaney	Mrs McIntosh	Mr Small	Mr Wood
Mr Chester	Ms McKenzie	Ms Spender	Mr Young

NOES, 96

Mr Abdo	Ms K Cook	Ms C King	Ms Rowland
Mr Albanese	Ms T Cook	Ms M M H King	Ms J Ryan
Dr Aly	Ms Doyle	Ms Lawrence	Ms Scrymgour
Ms Ambihaipahar	Mr Dreyfus	Mr Laxale	Ms Sharkie
Ms Belyea	Mrs Elliot	Ms Le	Ms Sitou
Ms Berry	Ms Fernando	Dr Leigh	Mr D Smith*
Mr Bowen	Ms France	Mr Lim	Mr M Smith
Ms Briskey	Dr Freelander	Ms McBain	Mr Soon
Mr Burke	Mr French	Ms McBride	Ms Stanley*
Mr Burnell	Dr Garland	Mr Marles	Ms Steggall
Mr Butler	Mr Georganas	Ms Mascarenhas	Ms Swanson
Ms Byrnes	Mr Giles	Ms Miller-Frost	Ms Teesdale
Ms Campbell	Mr Gorman	Mr Mitchell	Ms Templeman
Dr Chalmers	Mr Gosling	Mr Moncrieff	Mr Thistlethwaite
Dr Charlton	Mr Gregg	Dr Mulino	Ms Thwaites
Ms Chesters	Dr Haines	Mr Neumann	Ms Urquhart
Mr Clare	Mr Hill	Mr Ng	Ms Watson-Brown
Ms Claydon	Mr Holzberger	Ms O’Neil	Mr Watts
Ms Clutterham	Mr Husic	Mrs Phillips	Ms Wells
Ms Coffey	Ms Jarrett	Ms Plibersek	Ms White
Ms Coker	Ms Jordan-Baird	Mr Rae	Mr Wilkie
Ms Collins	Ms Kearney	Mr Repacholi	Mr J Wilson
Ms Comer	Mr Keogh	Ms Rishworth	Ms Witty
Mr Conroy	Mr Khalil	Ms Roberts	Mr Zappia

* Tellers

And so it was negatived.

- 1:08:40 PM

Question—That the bill be now read a second time—put.

- 1:08:56 PM

Division 119

The House divided (the Speaker, Mr Dick, in the Chair)—

AYES, 100

Mr Abdo	Ms T Cook	Ms M M H King	Dr M Ryan
Mr Albanese	Ms Doyle	Ms Lawrence	Dr Scamps
Dr Aly	Mr Dreyfus	Mr Laxale	Ms Scrymgour
Ms Ambihaipahar	Mrs Elliot	Ms Le	Ms Sharkie
Ms Belyea	Ms Fernando	Dr Leigh	Ms Sitou
Mr Bowen	Ms France	Mr Lim	Mr D Smith*
Ms Briskey	Dr Freelander	Ms McBain	Mr M Smith
Mr Burke	Mr French	Ms McBride	Mr Soon
Mr Burnell	Dr Garland	Mr Marles	Ms Spender
Mr Butler	Mr Gee	Ms Mascarenhas	Ms Stanley*
Ms Byrnes	Mr Georganas	Ms Miller-Frost	Ms Steggall
Ms Campbell	Mr Giles	Mr Mitchell	Ms Swanson
Dr Chalmers	Mr Gorman	Mr Moncrieff	Ms Teesdale
Ms Chaney	Mr Gosling	Dr Mulino	Ms Templeman
Dr Charlton	Mr Gregg	Mr Neumann	Mr Thistlethwaite
Ms Chesters	Dr Haines	Mr Ng	Ms Thwaites
Mr Clare	Mr Hill	Ms O’Neil	Ms Urquhart
Ms Claydon	Mr Holzberger	Mrs Phillips	Ms Watson-Brown
Ms Clutterham	Mr Husic	Ms Plibersek	Mr Watts
Ms Coffey	Ms Jarrett	Mr Rae	Ms Wells
Ms Coker	Ms Jordan-Baird	Mr Repacholi	Ms White
Ms Collins	Ms Kearney	Ms Rishworth	Mr Wilkie
Ms Comer	Mr Keogh	Ms Roberts	Mr J Wilson
Mr Conroy	Mr Khalil	Ms Rowland	Ms Witty
Ms K Cook	Ms C King	Ms J Ryan	Mr Zappia

NOES, 38

Ms Aldred*	Mr Hamilton	Mr L O’Brien	Mr Venning
Mr Batt	Mr Hawke	Mr Pasin	Mr Violi
Ms Bell	Mr Hogan	Ms Penfold	Mr Wallace
Mr Birrell	Mr Joyce	Mr Pike	Dr Webster
Mr Boyce	Mr Kennedy	Ms Price	Mr Willcox
Mr Buchholz	Ms Landry*	Mr Rebello	Mr R Wilson
Mr Caldwell	Mr Leeser	Mr Small	Mr T Wilson
Mr Chaffey	Mrs McIntosh	Mr Tehan	Mr Wood
Mr Chester	Ms McKenzie	Mr Thompson	Mr Young
Mr Conaghan	Mr Ted O’Brien

* Tellers

And so it was resolved in the affirmative.

- 1:18:01 PM

—bill read a second time.

- 1:18:14 PM

Message from the Governor-General

Message No. 52, 21 November 2025, from Her Excellency the Governor-General was announced recommending an appropriation for the purposes of the bill.

- 1:18:38 PM

Leave granted for third reading to be moved immediately.

On the motion of Dr Mulino (Assistant Treasurer), the bill was read a third time.

- 1:19:07 PM

11Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—

- 1:19:16 PM

Debate resumed by Mrs McIntosh who moved, as an amendment—That all words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:
“whilst not declining to give the bill a second reading, the House is of the opinion that the bill:

(1)does not provide sufficient certainty that universal outdoor mobile connectivity for voice and SMS services will be delivered to all Australians within the requisite timeframe, particularly for those living in regional, rural and remote Australia;

(2)places a vague and uncertain obligation on telecommunications carriers to provide “reasonable access” to outdoor mobile connectivity on an “equitable basis”;

(3)legislates the use of technologies such as voice to satellite before it either exists at scale or is commercially available, fuelling uncertainty and raising false hope particularly for Australians living or working in regional Australia;

(4)does not account for the fact that many handset devices in the Australian market will not be compatible with the technology required to access universal outdoor mobile connectivity;

(5)does not include express obligations in relation to universal access to triple zero emergency voice calls and SMS messages which is crucial for the health and safety of all Australians; and

(6)should be referred to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee for inquiry, given the degree of uncertainty and cost implications for consumers, so that public submissions which will inform potential amendments to the bill can be properly considered”.

- 1:30:00 PM

It being 1.30 pm, the debate was interrupted in accordance with standing order 43 and the resumption of the debate made an order of the day for a later hour this day.

- 1:30:10 PM

12MEMBERS’ STATEMENTS

Members’ statements were made.

Mr Joyce, 1:30:13 PM. Mr D Smith, 1:31:27 PM. Mr Thompson, 1:32:54 PM. Ms Belyea, 1:34:22 PM. Mr Katter, 1:35:54 PM. Mr Zappia, 1:37:33 PM. Mr Venning, 1:38:59 PM. Ms Byrnes, 1:40:31 PM. Mr Chaffey, 1:42:06 PM. Mr French, 1:43:39 PM. Mr Wallace, 1:45:07 PM. Ms K Cook, 1:46:42 PM. Dr Webster, 1:48:05 PM. Ms Fernando, 1:49:39 PM. Mr Willcox, 1:51:12 PM. Mr Repacholi, 1:52:38 PM. Mr T Wilson, 1:54:05 PM. Ms Jordan-Baird, 1:55:39 PM. Mr Hastie, 1:57:06 PM. Ms Sitou, 1:58:41 PM.

- 2:00:27 PM

13RESIGNATION OF MEMBER

The Speaker announced that, on 27 February 2026, he had received from Sussan Ley, a letter resigning her seat as Member for the electoral division of Farrer, in the State of New South Wales, and that consideration was being given to possible dates for the by-election and he would inform the House in due course of the dates which he had fixed.

- 2:00:49 PM

14SHADOW MINISTRY—DOCUMENT

Mr Taylor (Leader of the Opposition) presented the following document:

Taylor Shadow Ministry, 17 February 2026.

- 2:01:09 PM

Mr Albanese (Prime Minister), by indulgence, made a statement on the resignation of Ms Ley.

- 2:02:41 PM

Mr Albanese (Prime Minister), by indulgence, made a statement on the conclusion of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

- 2:04:59 PM

Mr Taylor (Leader of the Opposition), by indulgence, made a statement on the same matter.

- 2:06:21 PM

15QUESTIONS

- 2:06:24 PM

(1)Mr Taylor to Mr Albanese (Prime Minister)

Point of order, Mr Tehan. 2:08:10 PM. Mr Albanese, 2:08:54 PM. Point of order, Mr Tehan. 2:09:59 PM. Mr Albanese, 2:10:44 PM.

- 2:11:57 PM

(2)Mr Ng to Mr Albanese (Prime Minister)

- 2:15:31 PM

Mr Taylor (Leader of the Opposition), by indulgence, made a statement in relation to the previous answer.

- 2:16:38 PM

(3)Mr Hastie to Mr Burke (Minister for Home Affairs)

- 2:17:54 PM

(4)Ms Stanley to Mr Marles (Minister representing the Minister for Foreign Affairs)

- 2:21:40 PM

Distinguished visitor announced.

- 2:22:02 PM

(5)Mr Gee to Mr Albanese (Prime Minister)

- 2:25:28 PM

(6)Ms Belyea to Mr Albanese (Prime Minister)

- 2:29:19 PM

(7)Mr Littleproud to Mr Burke (Minister for Home Affairs)

- 2:30:02 PM

Member directed to leave

At 2.30 pm the Member for Casey (Mr Violi) was directed, under standing order 94, to leave the Chamber for one hour for interjecting and he accordingly left the Chamber.

- 2:30:10 PM

Questions without notice continued.

Mr Burke, 2:30:22 PM.

- 2:31:18 PM

(8)Mr Neumann to Dr Chalmers (Treasurer)

Point of order, Mr Hastie. 2:34:25 PM. Dr Chalmers, 2:35:30 PM.

- 2:36:35 PM

(9)Mr Littleproud to Mr Burke (Minister for Home Affairs)

Point of order, Mr Tehan. 2:39:21 PM. Mr Burke, 2:40:07 PM.

- 2:40:29 PM

(10)Mr Holzberger to Mr Butler (Minister for Health and Ageing)

Point of order, Mr Hogan. 2:43:48 PM. Mr Butler, 2:44:48 PM.

- 2:45:05 PM

(11)Mr Hastie to Mr Albanese (Prime Minister)

- 2:45:35 PM

(12)Ms Fernando to Ms Rishworth (Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations)

- 2:50:46 PM

(13)Mr Wilkie to Ms Collins (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry)

- 2:51:03 PM

(14)Mr Gregg to Dr Chalmers (Treasurer)

Point of order, Mr Tehan. 2:53:15 PM. Dr Chalmers, 2:54:14 PM. Point of order, Mr T Wilson. 2:55:26 PM. Dr Chalmers, 2:56:30 PM.

- 2:57:18 PM

(15)Mr McCormack to Mr Albanese (Prime Minister)

- 3:00:57 PM

(16)Ms T Cook to Mr Burke (Minister for Home Affairs)

- 3:04:10 PM

(17)Mr Joyce to Mr Bowen (Minister for Climate Change and Energy)

Point of order, Mr Joyce. 3:05:38 PM. Mr Bowen, 3:06:13 PM.

- 3:08:24 PM

(18)Ms Swanson to Ms C King (Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government)

- 3:12:30 PM

16Auditor-General’s Report

The Speaker presented the following document:

Auditor-General—Audit report No. 22 of 2025-26—Performance statements audit—Performance statements of major Australian Government entities—Outcomes from the 2024-25 audit program: Across entities—Corrigendum.

The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

- 3:12:51 PM

Personal explanation, Mr Leeser.

- 3:13:51 PM

Personal explanation, Mr T Wilson.

- 3:15:02 PM

17DOCUMENTS

The following documents were presented:

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Act 1998—Quarterly report of the Chief Executive Officer for the period—

1 April to 30 June 2025.

1 July to 30 September 2025.

Housing Australia—Home Guarantee Scheme trends and insights—Report for 2024-25.

Interactive Gambling Act 2001—Report of the statutory review of BetStop—the National Self-Exclusion Register—Report by Richard Eccles, December 2025.

*Royal Australian Navy Central Canteens Board—The Navy’s Anchorage—Report for 2024-25.

*The document was made a Parliamentary Paper.

- 3:15:20 PM

18Selection Committee—MEMBERSHIP

The House was informed that the Chief Opposition Whip had nominated Members to be members of the Selection Committee.

Mr Burke (Leader of the House), by leave, moved—That Mr Pike be discharged from the Selection Committee and that Mr Small and Ms Aldred be appointed members of the committee.

- 3:15:43 PM

Question—put and passed.

- 3:16:09 PM

19Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Bill 2025

The order of the day having been read for the resumption of the debate on the question—That the bill be now read a second time—

- 3:16:30 PM

Mrs McIntosh having moved an amendment (see item No. 11, page XX)—

- 3:16:30 PM

Question—That the amendment be agreed to—stated.

- 3:16:40 PM

Debate ensued.

Ms Campbell, 3:16:41 PM. Dr Webster, 3:31:52 PM. Ms McBain, 3:42:26 PM. Mr T Wilson, 3:53:33 PM. Mr French, 3:59:23 PM. Dr Scamps, 4:12:47 PM. Ms Templeman, 4:21:57 PM. Mr McCormack, 4:35:06 PM. Mr M Smith, 4:50:12 PM. Mr Kennedy, 5:00:12 PM. Mrs Phillips, 5:15:17 PM. Mr Birrell, 5:30:22 PM. Mr Repacholi, 5:43:13 PM.